Freedom of expression is not only a fundamental pillar of any democratic society, but also a right that must be actively upheld and defended. Ensuring this requires constant effort, engagement, and open dialogue among key actors. In this spirit, the European Union and the Council of Europe launched today new initiative on Promoting Freedom of Expression in Albania through Open Dialogue, in partnership with the Department of Journalism and Communication of Tirana University.

The introductory meeting, held at the premises of the Faculty of History and Philology, was welcomed by Dean Mark Marku, as facilitator of this initiative, marking the first step toward creating an inclusive and open dialogue bringing together public institutions, media professionals, journalists, civil society, academia, and experts to foster a more transparent and accountable media landscape in Albania.

In his opening remark, Silvio Gonzato, EU Ambassador to Albania, stressed: “This project is an opportunity for a truly whole-of-society approach to the reforms Albania needs to adopt in the media sector. All relevant stakeholders can come together to decide on the best model that fits the Albanian context, drawing from the best practices and standards found in Member States within the European Union. The EU is committed to supporting Albania in this complex exercise. There is no road towards EU integration without freedom of expression as a fundamental right in a democratic society.”

Addressing the event, Giulia Re, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Tirana, underlined: “Today’s meeting marks the starting point of an inclusive and comprehensive dialogue, ensuring that Albania’s media landscape aligns with European standards and continues to be a cornerstone of its democracy.”

Moreover, Elona Bano, Director of Integration and Negotiations at the Ministry of Justice, provided further insights into Albania’s ongoing journey toward strengthening freedom of expression and media pluralism.

Participants explored the project’s methodology, engaging in discussions on mapping key challenges, defining target interventions, and structuring thematic groups.

Discussions centered on three project’s main pillars:

• media ownership and independent journalism
• safety of journalists and press freedom violations
• access to information and institutional transparency.

The exchange of views highlighted the challenges that Albania’s media environment is facing and the need for improved regulatory frameworks and stronger institutional commitments to media freedom.

The project “Promoting Freedom of Expression in Albania through Open Dialogue” is funded by the European Union and co-funded and implemented by the Council of Europe, in partnership with the Department of Journalism and Communication of the University of Tirana. This initiative aims to foster a resilient and independent media sector, in line with the Council of Europe standards and facilitating Albania’s accession to the European Union.